‘Soldiers Shot Him In The Head’ – Family Of Killed NYSC Member Rejects Army’s Account

The family of a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Abdulsamad Jamiu, who lost his life during an operation by soldiers of the Guards Brigade Quick Response Force in Dei-Dei, Shagari Estate, Abuja, has rejected the military’s account of the incident.

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The family, in a statement on Sunday, narrated that military personnel shot at close range through Jamiu’s room, and the shot caught him in the head, killing him instantly.

According to the statement, the sad incident was witnessed by Jamiu’s sister, who was in the house at the time, while their parents were away in Okene for a burial ceremony.

Naija News reports that the family account contradicts the Army’s position, which had earlier claimed that Jamiu was caught in a crossfire on April 25 when troops of the Guards Brigade responded to a distress call from residents reportedly under attack by armed robbers.

The military, in a statement by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters Guards Brigade, Lieutenant Olawuyi Odunola, claimed the deceased died after sustaining injuries in a crossfire between the troops and the armed robbers.

The Family Record

However, the family disagreed with the record of events in the military account, adding that their s on was killed at about 2 am in his room by a shot fired at close range when the military personnel entered the estate.

They raised questions on the gunfire exchange in the military account, noting that no weapon was recovered from the scene, and no shell casings attributed to any party other than the military have been documented.

“Nigerian military personnel discharged a firearm at close range through the door of Abdulsamad’s room. The shot struck him in the head, killing him instantly.

“The trajectory of the bullet — confirmed by physical examination of the bullet hole, which runs from the room door to the wall — establishes that the shot was fired from outside the room, through a closed door.

“No such adversary has been identified, produced, or accounted for. No weapon was recovered from the scene. No shell casings attributed to any party other than the military have been documented,” the family statement read in part.

The family added that no robbery was reported in the community on the night of the incident, and the gate to the estate remains intact as the military scaled the fence to gain entrance.

“The point of entry used by the military personnel was the fence, which they scaled. The remnants of fallen barbed wire at the fence remain visible and physically verifiable at the scene to this day,” the statement added.

The family said Jamiu’s sister, upon hearing the gunshot, rushed downstairs but was told by the soldiers to go outside and “calm down”.

Neighbours who heard the gunshot alerted the community vigilance group.

However, on arrival, the vigilance group members were allegedly instructed by the soldiers to “mop up the blood and flush it”, a directive the family said raises serious concerns about the preservation of evidence.

Police Encounter

The family added that Jamiu’s body was later taken to the hospital by police officers, and they had to endure several hours of statements and administrative procedures before being granted access to retrieve their son’s remains for burial.

They further stated that when confronted, the soldiers admitted the shooting was a mistake and that they had killed an innocent person.

According to the family, the admission of killing an innocent person was made in the presence of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and documented in a written statement.

Probe Request

Jamiu’s family, therefore, demanded an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of their son’s death.

They want it to be conducted outside the Nigerian military’s chain of command and with full civilian oversight.

They also called for the identification, suspension pending investigation, and prosecution of the personnel responsible for the shooting.

In addition, the family demanded a retraction of the military’s earlier statement and the issuance of a corrected account consistent with the available evidence and prior admissions.

They further called for a formal public apology from the army.